President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. conferred the Order of National Scientists (ONS) and the Presidential Medal of Merit to two officials while calling on government agencies to dedicate more support for research and development in the area of health, science and technology, among others.

“Dahil napakahalaga para sa ating mga kababayan na itong R&D, hindi lamang sa healthcare kundi sa lahat ng sektor ng ating ekonomiya, ng ating lipunan, ay dapat bigyan ng pansin,” President Marcos said at the conferment ceremony of the Order of National Scientists (ONS) and the Presidential Medal of Merit to Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty.

“We need to now be very conscientious and put together a program wherein we can support, in whatever way that the government can, on research and development,” the chief executive added.

Some of the diseases discussed between the President and the awardees are diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis, and HIV, which are now becoming common in the country.

The President also mentioned that they talked about efficient ways to bring new technologies to the market.

“What are the methods that we can do so that the R&D, or the new knowledge, the new technologies can be brought to market as it were, as quickly as possible,” President Marcos said.

The President is set to involve the private sector in the said effort for a whole-of-society approach while re-assuring that the government will be multiplying its efforts.

“The government will of course do its part. But I think we will multiply our efforts, there will be a multiplier effect if we include all the sectors of government and also our private sector partners. And so this is what we are planning to do today. This is what we are planning to do for the future,” President Marcos said.

The chief executive ordered Padilla to put together a program with the DTI, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Health (DOH), to be able to support activities in terms of R&D and to actually bring the technology to the general populace.

During the said conferment ceremony, the President recognized Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla for her contributions and expertise in the field of Genetics which played an important role in the passage of Republic Act (RA) No. 9288, or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, RA 10747, or the Rare Diseases Act of 2016, and her recent spearheading of the establishment of the Philippine Genome Center.

The Newborn Screening Act is known to have saved thousands of infants all over the country from mental retardation and death, while the Rare Diseases Act protects and promotes the right to health of the Filipino people, including the right of persons suffering from rare diseases to survive and healthy development as individuals through access to timely health information and adequate medical care.

The Philippine Genome Center was at the forefront of the country’s pandemic response and provided the government and the country’s policymakers with the information needed to better understand the virus and implement measures to limit and manage its spread.

On the other hand, Assistant Secretary Gepty was commended by the President for his invaluable contribution to the negotiations in relation to the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). President Marcos honored and recognized the two awardees’ contributions to the promotion of the country’s national interests, particularly in healthcare and international trade.

The RCEP is known to be the biggest trade bloc in the world which is anticipated to open opportunities for Filipinos and Philippine companies to export trade and services to a market exceeding two billion people that are within the region.

The Philippines’ participation in RCEP is expected to strengthen linkages in regional supply chains and serve as a catalyst for attracting more foreign direct investments into the country.

The President also mentioned that under the RCEP the country would be able to source raw materials for local production of products for export to RCEP countries at a preferential rate.

“Both Dr. Padilla and Asec. Gepty exemplify what it means to be a public servant and these awards are our form of recognition and a testament to that service,” President Marcos said.

“Their service goes above and beyond typical duties and responsibilities and their achievements have created and will continue to create a positive and lasting impact,” he added.

The President concluded his remarks by thanking the two awardees for their “outstanding service to the country and to the Filipino people” and by reminding them to continuously serve with excellence.

“May this accomplishment reinvigorate your drive to selflessly serve the country and may you continue to be a shining example to our fellow workers in government and continue to provide inspiration for service for our fellow citizens,” the President said. PND